Chat with Deb — Not Easy Being Aunt Debbie

Well of course! But look at the benefits!

DEB: (cutting a brown paper grocery bag into an explorer vest before stepping out the door) It’s not easy being Aunt Debbie!

For many reasons. For one, she can be called at a moment’s notice. Well, half a day’s notice, in this case — she got a call Friday night for a Saturday morning appearance to help her sister-in-law care for two young grandnephews.

ME: Got the magic bag?

DEB: Already in the car!

Aunt Debbie has a magic bag (that looks like an old laptop bag—magic bags can look totally ordinary, y’know) that holds things like cars that make VROOOM! noises (although their sound comes out of a kid’s mouth) and plastic food that goes on plastic plates, like the kind found in fine restaurants (well, the fine restaurants that pop up when young ones are visiting). Plus binoculars, which go with an explorer vest, either made by Aunt Debbie or crafted by a three-year-old boy using his great aunt’s example.

DEB: We’re almost out of coffee filters, I’m adding them to the next shopping list.

ME: Um, okay. (we had not made coffee that morning) And you noticed this because… oh! You’re taking coffee filters for an art project.

Coffee filters are great for watercolor-based art projects, of course. Y’all knew that already, right?